Clamping-plate for timber structures



(No Model.)

G. W. ZEIGLER. 1 OLAMPING PLATE FOR TIMBER STRUCTURES.

No. 409,547. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

WITNESSES: Ill/VE/VTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. ZEIGLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLAMPlNG-PLATE FOR TIMBER STRUCTURES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,547, dated August20, 1889.

Application filed May 13, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. ZEIGLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWashers for 'Clamped Frame-\Vorks and Scaffolds; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a sufficiently full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof as to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the saidinvention.

This invention relates to the uniting of the parts of Wooden frame-worksto each other which, for purposes of packing, erection, and convenientadjustment, required to be pivotally connected by bolts, with theutilization of the greatest practicable strength of the timber; and toaccomplish this end the invention consists in a flat washer having acentral bolt-hole and a rim concentric therewith upon one side, adaptedto fit a correspondinglyshaped groove in timber, and on the oppositeside a straight flange adapted to rest against the end of the timber,and a series of projecting teeth or spurs adapted to indent the timberto which it is applied and prevent the slipping thereon.

The construction of this invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which-- Figure 1 shows a front View of my invention, theparts of the reverse side being drawn in dotted lines; and Fig. 2 showsan edge or side View thereof.

The same reference-marks indicate like parts in both figures.

1 is a flat washer, rectangular in one half and the other semicircular,and concentric with the semicircular portion and bounding the edgethereof is a circular rim 2, projecting on the front side of theplate 1. In the center of this circular rim is a hole 3 through theplate 1, of sufficient size to pass the shaft of the screw-bolt intendedto be used with it. Upon the reverse side of the plate 1, at the marginof the straight side, is a straight projecting flange 4, against whichthe end of a timber may rest. On the same or reverse side of the plate 1are a number of projecting teeth or spurs 5, which, when pressed firmlyagainst a surface of wood, indent it, so that the plate 1 cannot slip onthe timber. These teeth, while useful, are not absolutely essential, andmay be omitted when desired.

Serial No. 310,607. (No model.)

These washers may be made by casting or by stamping from ductile metal.The latter are preferable, as being lighter for the same strength, butrequire much more expensive preparations for their manufacture,especially in the large sizes. To use these washers, a hole of theproper size to pass the bolt is bored in the timber to be united at thepoint around which it is desired to make pivotal adjustments. Next agroove concentric with the hole is cut by a screwing-bit of such formand diameter as to fit the rim 2 on the washer 1. Next a hole of a sizeto fit easily around the bolt is bored in the other piece of timber at adistance from the end equal to the distance from the hole 3 in thewasher 1 to the straight flange 4. Next the bolt is put through thelast-mentioned piece of timber, the washer 1 is placed on the bolt withthe reverse face against the timber, the rim 2 is laid in the annulargroove in the other timber and the bolt passed through it, and the nutapplied and screwed up. The spurs 5 sink into the wood, and, with theflange 4:, hold one piece of timber, while the rim 2, engaging in theannular groove, holds the other, so that any force applied tending toslide or separate the timbers is laterally or lengthwise resisted by theWasher and the only strain upon the bolt is in the direction of itsaxis.

Having described my invention and the application and use thereof, whatI claim is 1. A new and useful article of hardware manufacture adaptedto be used in uniting timber frameworks, consisting of washer having acentral aperture and a concentric rim formed upon one side thereof, anda projecting right-line flange upon the other side, both framedintegrally with the washer, substantially as set forth.

2. A new and useful article of hardware manufacture, consisting of awasher having a central aperture and a concentric annular rim upon oneside and a right-line flange and projecting spurs and points upon theopposite side, and adapted to unite pivotally-adjustable parts of timberframe-works, substantially as set forth.

GEORGE WV. ZEJIGLER.

W'itnesses:

J. DANIEL EBY, VAN WYcK BUDD.

